An artist's impression of Tesco's plans for the Broadwater Road site in WGC, showing the new supermarket in the former Shredded Wheat factory

Welwyn Garden City traders snub Tesco meeting

By Simon Wesson, Reporter Friday, July 29, 2011
6:20 AM

SMALL traders from across the east side of WGC were given the chance to speak out on the proposed Tesco development this week – yet only one turned up.

The meeting was organised by the WGC Society to explain the Broadwater Road proposals, and to give businesses on the east of the railway tracks their say, and to collate the opinions as part of a report to stop Tesco from building on the former Shredded Wheat site.

Although around 20 people attended, the only nearby trader came from Welwyn Home Improvement Centre on Woodhall Parade.

Dr Dennis Lewis, who co-hosted Wednesday’s meeting at the Methodist Church, in Ludwick Way, said: “I’m a little disappointed with the turnout.

“Without any fear of contradiction, I can say this is the biggest thing to hit this town for a long, long time, at least 50 years, or since it was designated as a new town.

“Tesco would not be good local traders in fact for local people or local traders.

“Together we can see off Tesco, they are not invincible.

“Our research shows that there’s something like 20 towns where there have been applications [by Tesco] which have been thrown out.”

While the turnout for nearby businesses may have been low, Welwyn Home Improvement Centre owner Pravin Shah did voice his concerns.

He said: “Even if Tesco doesn’t happen, they’ve already taken so much from me, there’s no two ways about it, they’re greedy. So we are fearful of closure.”

18 comments

Now What a Supprise,Sainsbury,s in the TOWN CENTRE is Bigger than first said. Dr Lewis and Grant Shapps(dont know why Grant,s now got involved) Both say The FOOTBRIDGE from TC to Broadwater Road is Not WIDE ENOUGH so the Tesco should not now Go ahead.GET REAL what are you expecting STAMPEEDS,Let Tesco Build and BOTH OF YOU GO and find Something ELSE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

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austin35

Wednesday, August 3, 2011
I have to hand it to Tesco for using the promise of a swimming pool to win support. So they go ahead and build it and then what? Do they offer to maintain it forever? Of course not, they hand it over to the tax payer to fund. If Tesco hadn't bought the land, we could have chosen to do all of these things anyway. It's only when you allow a supermarket to buy up land that you get held to ransom, as Tesco can now say 'Accept our plans or we'll make sure you suffer forever'. And that's a good thing? For the record, I'm not against a Tesco in WGC. However, I do not like the promises of all these wonderful things that will possibly not even happen. I also hope that we don't see this site intercepted by SpenhillTesco stooges, as happened on Grant Shapps' forum.

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jonmorris

Monday, August 1, 2011
Sorry British Lady Dog but sometimes we have to do things ourselves and not wait for others,even MPs do do them for us. It may be that I have more contact with young people Fourteen of my grand children went to school in Woodhall and now three great Grandchildren go there. They have found plenty to do in our town including the cinema at Campus West and those not playing Rugby played football for local teams. There's plenty to do but we can't always wait around for some body to organise it for us.

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Pilgrim

Monday, August 1, 2011
by the way pilgrim I am a woman!!!!!!

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British-Bulldog

Sunday, July 31, 2011
by the way pilgrim I am a woman!!!!!!

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British-Bulldog

Sunday, July 31, 2011
@ pilgrim, it is not down to me to organise asking the youngsters of WGC it is the MP's like Grant Shapps that have been voted in, and paid a good wage. I am not doing their job for them. All the MP's say is 'please speak to me if there is anything you want to talk about' when they get in they dont want to know. The Campus is ok if you want to read a book or roller skate!!!!!!

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British-Bulldog

Sunday, July 31, 2011
IJWilliams I agree Ebenezer Howard must hate what is happening to the town and Tesco's would not have been on his plans - soon we'll look like every other town in the area instead of a Garden City

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WGCRV

Sunday, July 31, 2011
@pilgrim, if things carry on the way they are, there wont be anything in wgc, not only are Tescos bring a store to WGC, they are planning to redevelope the land with pool and more housing, a museum. So surely the buidling of the houses will create more jobs, the museum will create jobs as well as the swimming pool, which SOO MANY of us in WGC having been trying to get for years since they closed the stanborough pool. And how do u know what the youngesters wont, all we have heard is opposition to the planned developement ! MAYBe you should get out there and ask them!

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donna

Sunday, July 31, 2011
@pilgrim, if things carry on the way they are, there wont be anything in wgc, not only are Tescos bring a store to WGC, they are planning to redevelope the land with pool and more housing, a museum. So surely the buidling of the houses will create more jobs, the museum will create jobs as well as the swimming pool, which SOO MANY of us in WGC having been trying to get for years since they closed the stanborough pool. And how do u know what the youngesters wont, all we have heard is opposition to the planned developement ! MAYBe you should get out there and ask them!

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donna

Sunday, July 31, 2011
So British Bulldog wants the young people to express their view. Well let him organise it; I'm sure Tesco will sponsor him, (if they think it in their interests). The youngsters I know spend their time at Gosling , Campus West as well as the Golf and Rugby Clubs and are not interested in Tesco promises.

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Pilgrim

Sunday, July 31, 2011
Donna, WGC needs jobs? Fair enough. Tesco will need shelf stackers and then maybe 1 member of staff to oversee 4-8 self checkouts. Add in a supervisor or two and that will be it. I'm not knocking the jobs themselves, but don't expect Tesco to be a huge employer? Not really. Still with no manufacturing in the UK and all customer service jobs outsourced, the next generation probably only have a job in Tesco to look forward to - then you can spend all the money you earn in Tesco!

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jonmorris

Saturday, July 30, 2011
why is that tescos is only mentioned by WHT when WGC society have something to say, enough said one thinks, it is about time this paper started to show both sides of the argument, but I feel that they are most definitely on the side of Dr Lewis. I totally agree with donna about giving the younger generation a say in what they want, Dr Lewis name places in wgc where youngsters can go because i cant think of any. Dr Lewis never slates Sainsbury's and having a store in the town is worse surely than a tescos of which is just outside the town. I will wait for your reply to my question Dr Lewis????????????

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British-Bulldog

Friday, July 29, 2011
Tesco must give us our swimming pool now... after all we will be supplying them with an incinerator in Hatfield that will help save on the cost of their waste disposal... Every litter helps!

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commonsense

Friday, July 29, 2011
So Dr Lewis only ONE trader turns up,i think this proves the East Side Traders are not so worried about Tesco as Your TOWN CENTRE MATES and the Rest Of Sainsbury,s Shareholders.Come on WHC give tesco your support and the go ahead,We need this development...!!!!!

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austin35

Friday, July 29, 2011
Not quite sure why the WGC Society are now showing an interest in the town to be honest. The rot set in with the whole Howard Centre debacle and in the years since, WGC has become everything it was designed to get away from. Poor old Sir Ebenezer must be looking down at the place with a very heavy heart.

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IJWilliams

Friday, July 29, 2011
a meeting organised by WGC society and only 20 people turn up......get the message out of the old in the new, was there a protest when they issued plans for the new sainsburys obviously not, but Tesco's come on, its not your side of town so why are you worring WGC society, maybe you should hand the reins over to theyounger generation, who aregoing to be here a long time after you are gone, WGC needs jobs

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donna

Friday, July 29, 2011
Mr Lewis saids about 50 odd years ago when my mother and father moved here from London the condition was they had to work in WGC to have the house so they made journeys every day from London to WGC Mr Lewis and his mates from the town centre exactly told my parents that people from WGC did not want them here so beware East Side Mr Lewis thinks he owns WGC lives in the past where WGC was only a few streets and everyone had posh accents. I think Mr Lewis and friends are losing the battle now because trust me Mr Lewis etc are only looking after themselves not most of WGC. That make this town somewhere to be proud of and everyone from all ages can enjoy a lesiure complex everyone can enjoy.

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qcgirlie

Friday, July 29, 2011
Typical... Full of complaints, but not bothered to take any action. While I applaud Dr Lewis and the Home improvement centre for making an effort... The rest of them, through their own stupidity, may well get all they deserve when Tesco opens.

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Imogen Mann

Friday, July 29, 2011